At the end of this week the entire country of Israel is returning to lockdown status. It isn’t going to be the same as the first time. There are a few differences. But overall, the meaning is the same. Israel was one of the first countries to do this the first time around. Then, when it looked like we had the pandemic under control, the government started reopening sectors of the economy. The result was a terrible second wave of infections.
Now, we’re returning to the major measure that seemed to help. There are plenty of small groups (and some that are not so small) that are going to suffer. The various attempts to drop or ease restrictions were all distorted in one way or another by our various political parties. That hasn’t changed. The bottom line is that we are shutting a lot down, and angering a lot of people. The haphazard way that restrictions were relaxed, fully, partially, and eve reimposed, did little to gain public support.
I know a lot of individuals who will not honor the new (re-imposed) restrictions. Many of them may face serious fines. But whatever happens, public confidence in the government is still dropping. The propensity of our current prime minister to go on the air with statements that many recognize as, at best, half-truths, isn’t helping. It will soon be the Jewish New Year. A lot of us will be praying to be inscribed and sealed for a Happy New Year. May those prayers be answered.
Wetherhorn 